Project Description

What are Suppositories?

>Suppositories are capsules for the rectal administration of drugs, in order to enable the desired therapeutic effects.

The are many advantages this method offers for medical marijuana administration:

Medicine may still be administered even if the oral route is impaired or disallowed due to the oral intake restrictions that are frequently required both before and after surgery.

Avoiding the gastrointestinal tract prevents metabolism by the stomach and liver, which breaks down the many different cannabinoids into their constituent parts (including THC), and allows the active constituents to reach the blood in much higher concentrations.

50% of THC is usually transformed into its more psychoactive form, 11-Hydroxy-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, when taken orally Rectal administration avoids these effects, whilst allowing a higher proportion of THC to reach the bloodstream.

Overall, this method provides a far more efficient uptake of the medicine, as shown in this table:

As well as a higher efficiency compared to when taken orally or inhaled, the effects are consistently predictable. This is vital when designing a personalised medication regime.

Initial effects are felt rapidly, usually within 10 – 15 minutes, and lasting 4 – 8 hours. A faster onset than orally (edibles, oils, tinctures) which can take up to 2 hours, and longer lasting than inhalation (up to 2 hours. The best of both worlds!

Ingestion Methods & Advice

Use a decarboxylated cannabutter. Organic cocoa butter is recommended.

A syringe can also be utilised to deliver cannabis oil in a similar manner.

Use a type, strength and dose of butter or oil appropriate to your condition. The higher the levels of CBD (which is an antipsychotic ) in your cannabis, the more THC and thus more Oil you can consume without getting as high.

Its important to ensure the suppository is firm enough and of a suitable shape for effective delivery. This can be done using a refrigerator and an appropriate mould such as a straw, which can be cut off to a desired length, or cling film.

Ensure the suppository has been inserted past the anal sphincter. If not inserted fully past the sphincter, it may be expelled without the active ingredients being absorbed into the bloodstream.

The suppository should be placed around 2 ½ to 4 centimetres (1 to 1 ½ inches) into the rectum, just beyond the anal sphincter.